Hot water supply device



May 3, 1932. J. J. PARKINSON HOT WATE SUPPLY DEVICE Filed I March 29 1926 Patented May 3, 1932 PA-TENT orricr.

JOHN J. reltxr vsoiv, or c ron o, ILLINOIS,

HOT WATER SUPPLY DEVICE- Application filed March 29, 1926. Serial No. 98,163.

The present invention relates to hot water systems or supply devices and parts thereof. Among the objects of the invention is to provide. a novel supply system or device capable of maintaining a circulation of the waterirrespective of thedemand that might be made upon thesupply and to always supply hot water for instant use at the-taps or faucets irrespective of such demand.

' Another object :ofthe invention, whether or not maintaining the demand but preferably. in aid of maintaining said demand, is to provide means for tempering or preheating the incoming or replenishing water supply,

suchas the water being supplied from a-oity main or the like. The tempering or preheating in a specificform of theinvention, is preferably effected by passing the incoming water through a passagesubmerged inthehot water passingfromtheheating means. i The invention also comprehends, as another feature, means for cushioning or absorbing fluctuat ons in the fluid pressure in the system, such means being preferably con- -,i nected to the supply line ahead of the preheating-means, as between the city supply and the preheater. I

.As [another feature of the invention, the latteralso includes the idea of p assing the wa- 3: .ter to be heated, through passages of the re turnflow type, which are submerged in'the liquidof a heater, whether it be a hot water heateror a steamer vapor boiler. By submergingtheheatingcoils or legs having the jretlirn flow passages, in the liquid, as within a short distance below the normal water levelofthe same, the temperature of the waterin the supply passage can never rise above the boiling point and there is no danger of jsteam arriving at the taps, faucets or spigots and burning the user.

The invention also comprehends the pro vision of asinglez-supply duct or conduit for any number of tap-off branches or risers and also the prov sion of novel means for tappin g oii for and returning from each ofsuch riser or branch, the latterha-ving any desiredonumber of faucet-s or thelike. Preferably such means is, arranged to take the water from the upper part of the supply duct where the water is at ,a higher temperature than that at the lower part of the duct, and supplying this water to the faucets, the rising pipe then leading to, a return pipe connected to the lower part of the duct forreturning the wa- 5" tor of lower temperature into the duct where the water is at lower temperature than that in the upper part of the duct. For the pur: pose of aiding in directing this return into the lower part of the duct, the invention com- 6 prehends a novel fitting preferably having a tapered passage, nozzle or orifice for directing the returning stream of water downward 1y into the lower space of the supply or circulating duct'or conduit. Such a fitting is preferably provided in each return branch.

The invention also comprehends the provision of a return pipe or duct leading back to the heater for connection with the supply duct, preferably at a point after the water has passed through the submerged heating coils, although it might be ahead of that, if desired. This is for the purpose of recir culation of the water and whereby a free and rapid circulation may be effected. The re- 75- turning water mayhave dropped in temperature, and the return pipe is therefore preferably connected to one or more heating coils of the return-flow type submerged a short distance below the normal water level of the liquid in the heater, whereby the Water may receive heat before recirculating in thesupply duct. The present invention offers the advantage of the use of smaller pipes than heretofore required and the elimination of an extra return pipe and also the elimination of a vcirculationpun p. It also comprehends thepro- I vision of means for readily flushing out or cleaning the system within a very short period 99;

rate of supply or of return or of both for necting parts of the device.

maintaining the proper heating and flow.

Other objects, capabilities, advantages and features are comprehended by the invention as will laterappear and are inherently possessed by the invention. 7

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 ,is. a side view in elevation, with'parts brokenaway,

of a systemconstructed in accordance with the invention. 7

Fig. 2'is a front vertical view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional and part side view taken in a plane represented by line 3 3 in Fig. 2 of'the'drawingsp Fig. 4 is a verticalsectional view taken through the cushioning and preheating con- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary part sectional and part top plan View of some of the heating coils for the system. 7 7

"Fig. 1s a transversesectionalvlew of one ofthe heating coils.

Referring now mor -in data to the (at- I ings, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shownas comprising a conduit or duct 1 leading from any suitable source ofsupply suchas from a city water main, this conduit being connectedftoaninlet passage 2 of acrossfitting 3for delivery of water there-v to. The cross 3, has 'a'la-teral opening in which is secured a coil 4' of tubular form and having at itsother end a closure or cap lYithin the tube'4 is longitudinally disposedv partitionineans 6 ofthegeneral cross sectionalformshown in F1 6 of the drawln' s.

a this partition-means having a horizontal wall portion 7 and a vertical wall portion 8, the

' horizontal wall portion 7 having curved flanges 9 for engaging with andresting upon the lower half of the tubes 4. In this way 1 the partition'means provides forpassages 1O and 11 above the partition 7 and passage 12 below the partition 7. The inner end of the partition means terminates a substantial distance from the end of the cap ,5 so as to pro tition means terminating at the end of'the tube 4 which is connected to the fitting 3.

Within the fitting 3 is provided a partition 13 extending upwardly from one side of an outlet 14 of this fitting member 3 and extending laterally with the end of the partition in registry with the end of the partition 7 in the tube-4. To" the outlet 14 is connected a pipe or conduit15 leading toT-fittings 16 and 17 and a valve 18 adapted to control'the prises a connecting pipe 38fsecured at an from the above that the flow of the fluid is through the pipe 1 into the upper space of the fitting 3 and above the partition 13 and thenceinto the passages 10 and 11. The fluid then passes around the end of the partition means near the cap 5 and then beneath the partition portion 7 through the passage 12 to the lower space of the fitting 3 and thence through the pipe 15. r p I At the opposite side of the fitting 3from that where the tube 4 is connected, is provided a cushioning means adapted to absorb shocksor fluctuations in pressure in the pipe system, suchaswateryhammers and the like, the cushioning device comprising flanged chambers 19 and 20connected together by bolts or the like 21'and separated by a diaphragm 22 against which acts a coil spring 23, the latter reacting against the outer en of the chamber 20. The chamber 19 is connected by a nipple 24 to the upper space of 27 and has disposed therein a partition means 6 with the inner end of the same registering with a partition 28' formed in a T fitting 29 to which the pipe 25- is "connected. It will be seen that the flow of the fluid is into one side of the T fitting -29-and thence into the spaces 10 and 111 at one side'of the tube 26 and around the end of the same near the cap 27 and then throughthe space '12 to the other side of the partition'28 in .theT fitting 29. The T fitting 29 may. be -conne'ctedwith a succeeding like fitting-by a short connecting pipe 30. The succeeding heating coils areof the same structure. i

' After passing, through the heating coils,

the fluid then passes through a duct or pipe 31 to apipe 32 and intoa'chamber' 33 ofany desirableform, such as of cylindrical form as shown. It is' within this chamber'that the tube 4 extends and is submerged in the liquid passing into the chamber 33 whereby the.

fluid passing through the passages 10,11and 12 will absorb "heat from the heated liquid passing through the chamber 33- The liquid will then pass frrimth chamber 33 through adu'ct orpipe 34 to 'a' circulating pipe 35.

The circulating pipe maybe given a slight pitch or rise as desired and'extend through the building to the points Where the hot water is to be used 'anddrawn off through-taps or faucets; Atlintervals along this conduit or duct 35 are connected fittings 36 toeach of which is connected the riser or branch leadifngto the faucets and also returning there rom.

Ea'ch branch or riser may have one or more faucets 37 and the pipe leading thereto com-' angle of 45 degrees with the fitting 36 so as to receive communication from the upper space within the fitting 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. From the riser is. connected a return pipe 39 leading back through a fitting 40 connected with the side of the fitting 36 and adapted to direct the returning fluid into the lower space or part of the fitting 36. The fitting 40 is preferably provided with a tapered passage 41 or nozzle adapted to downwardly direct the returning stream of fluid into the lower space of the fitting 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. As the water is flowing through the conduit and the fittings 36, the water of higher temperature will be in the upper part of the conduit and fittings and water of lower temperature will be in the lower part thereof. Therefore the hot water will pass upwardly through the pipe 38 and the riser to the faucets, and circulation may be effected by return of the cooler Water to the pip-e 39 and fitting 40 to the nozzle 41 for returning into the lower space of the fitting 36. There is just enough difference in temperatures between the upper and lower parts of the conduit 35 and fittings 36 to cause this circular valve 46.

tion.

The conduit 35 proceeds through the building and is connected to a return pipe 42 which may have a check valve 43 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The return pipe may then be connected to a fitting 44 to which may be connected a drain pipe 45 controlled by a The return may then proceed through a control valve 47 and a pipe 48 to one or more heating coils 49 of the returnflow type and of the same identical structure as that described above in connection with Fig. 5 of the drawings. The liquid thus heated by these return-flow pipes or coils will then proceed through a pipe 50 connected by a T-fitting 51 with the pipe 32, preferably at a point beyond the heating coils of the pipe 24, for the recirculation of the returned water with the water passing into the pipe 32 to supply the demand in the circulating pipe 35.

In this way it will be apparent that water may first flow to a preheating return-flow coil 4 in the preheating chamber 33 and be tempered or be given a preliminary heat before passing to the heating coils in the furnace or heater, and then passing through the heating coils in the heater. The heater 52 may be of anydesired form for heating the liquid, such as a hot water heater or a steam; or vapor boiler, and it is part of this invention to submerge the heating coils 26 a short distance below the normal level of the liquid in the boil er. In this way the liquid passing therethrough will never rise in temperature above the boiling point; thus the maximum temperature thereof is controlled. The rate of flow of the liquid through these parts and to the pipe 32 into the chamber 33 and conduit 35 is controlled by the valve 18 and the-return flow valve 47 in the return flow conduit 42. Whatever amount of water is used at the fancets will be replenished by the water flowing into pipe 1 from the city main, and the amount not used will return through the return pipe 42 and recirculate with the replenished liquid in the pipe 32, the returning water, in the meanwhile, being heated through the coils 49. In this way a continuouscirculation of the water may be effected irrespective of the amount of demand made at the faucets.

If it be desired to flush out or clean the system, the same may be drained through drain pipes 53 and 54 connected to fittings 16 and 17 and controlled by valves 55 and 56. Likewise draining may be effected through the drain pipe 45 controlled by the valve 46 in the return conduit 42.

l/Vhile I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the latter is not limited thereto but comprehends other features, constructions, arrangements of parts and details without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

, 1. In a hot water heating system comprising a boiler, a preheater chamber, a preheater coil in said chamber, heating coils in said boiler, said preheater coil being connected to a water supply and in series with a heating coil in said boiler, said chamber, a tap-0E pipe, another of said heating coils and a con nection between said heating coils and said chamber.

2. In a hot water heating system comprising a boiler, a hot water circuit comprising a preheating chamber, a tap-off, a connection between said preheating chamber and said tap-off, a heating coil in said boiler, a connection between said heating coil and said tapoff, a connection from the other side of said heating coil to said chamber, a second heating coil in said boiler, a connection between said second heating coil and said connection between said preheating chamber and said first mentioned heating coil, a preheating coil in said preheating chamber and connected to a water supply and to the other side of said second heating coil.

3. In a hot water heating system comprising a boiler, first and second heating coils in said boiler, a preheating chamber, a connection between said heating coils and leadin to said chamber, a conduit leading from sai chamber to a tap-off and to said second heating coil, a preheating coil in said chamber and connected to a water supply, and a connection from the other side of said preheating coil to said first heating coil.

4. In a hot water heating system comprisinga boiler, a hot Water circuit, said circuit including a heating coil in said boiler, a pre-- heating chamber outside said boiler, and a tap-ofibeyond said preheating chamber,- and 5 a sup-ply line connected to said circuit between said heating coil and said preheating chamber, said supply line including a pre-v heating coil in said preheating chamber and i a heating coil in said boiler.

19. In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe I my name to this specification.

' JOHNfJ. PARKINSON; 

